Gonstead Chiropractic

Gonstead Chiropractic

The system of Gonstead chiropractic represents an amazing man’s life work. It all began in 1923 when Dr. Clarence S. Gonstead opened his first practice. His patients experienced amazing results and his reputation quickly grew. He ultimately built the largest clinic in the profession in a small farming community with 1200 residents. To accommodate a growing number of travelers seeking Gonstead’s unique brand of chiropractic, he built a 78 room full-service motel and air strip. The legacy of his work is evident in that his technique is now taught in most chiropractic colleges around the world.

At Prince Chiropractic Wellness Center, every patient receives an individualized approach. Have you ever felt like you’re getting the same treatment over and over? Not with Gonstead Chiropractic. We perform an exam on every visit to determine where and if you need an adjustment!

Gonstead Chiropractic is a very precise approach. After conducting a thorough history and exam, which may include x-rays, we only adjust the specific bone or joint indicated, not ALL of them! Doctors who use Gonstead chiropractic take great care to limit rotation during your adjustment so it is safe and comfortable.

Our Doctors are trained exclusively in the Gonstead Chiropractic technique. We have received extensive post graduate training to become proficient in this system and have a combined 14 years of experience. You’re never too young or too old to see what Gonstead Chiropractic can do for you!

History

Your Gonstead exam begins with a thorough history which includes questioning about your condition. Once we learn what makes your symptoms better or worse we can begin the work of finding the root cause of your complaint. We’ll set expectations regarding relief as well as goals for full recovery.

The second part of the Gonstead exam involves the use of a meter that measures heat. Dual-probe thermography is used on every visit to measure heat or temperature on each side of the spine. Localized heat is an indicator of inflammation which causes nerve pressure. If nerve pressure is present in the area of your complaint it is likely that your condition will respond to care. We use this on every visit to determine where and if you need an adjustment.

Palpation

This portion of the exam involves taking the time to touch and feel the joints for tenderness, muscle tightness or spasm and edema (swelling). Palpation includes a static and dynamic component to determine whether fixation or a loss of motion is present. We only adjust joints that are locked or stuck.

Orthopedic & Neurological Testing

Special testing helps determine whether or not your condition will respond to chiropractic care or if an orthopedic or medical referral is necessary. Additionally, this form of testing reveals the exact location of joint, muscle and nerve irritation. We explain the results of these tests so you understand how your body works and how we can help.

The Gonstead Method is a bio-mechanical approach to the spine and orthopedic conditions. A full-spine weight-bearing x-ray often reveals the root cause of many conditions. Additionally, we use software to mark and measure misalignments on the x-ray. This helps correlate our history and physical exam findings. Dr Gonstead once said “To see is to know. Not to see, is to guess.” Click on the video below to see a brief demonstration of our line-marking system and x-ray analysis. This is not a comprehensive look at our analysis but it serves as an example of the level of detail that goes into the evaluation of each and every patient’s case.